Wilderness Liaison

by Anne Ashby

  Thank God his arrogant short-sightedness hadn’t destroyed Mazin’s confidence.

  Now Shal realised his next mission was to show his brother acceptance as a key member of the management team. Glancing at his watch, he cursed.

  It would be at least another thirty minutes before the staff arrived, and much longer before Maz turned up. He stopped in mid-pace as he pushed that negative thought aside. I have to amend my view of my kid brother, and I have to do it now.

  A noise beyond his door drew him. He controlled the drop of his mouth as his brother emerged from the lift, a full half-hour before the start of the workday, neat as a pin in his suit and tie.

  Time to start building bridges. Shal straightened his shoulders as he called a cheery greeting. “You’ve had a great week, I see.” He clapped the other man on the shoulder and followed him along into his office. “I’d have never had the guts to pull off that deal with Platonic. Congratulations!”

  ****

  Despite filling his days at the office working alongside a dedicated brother he hardly recognised, Shal missed Jodie when they couldn’t be together. Long phone conversations each night did little but make sleep impossible as he warred with his traitorous body. He wanted to be with her, needed to feel her touch against his bare skin.

  He couldn’t mention marriage again yet. His breath caught in his throat at the enormity of his plan to make his proposal something she’d never forget. There was so much he had to learn about her, but he was certain of this one thing—she would love his surprise.

  Until it was finalised, though, he had to wait. Damn it. He accepted these things took time, but a little black box was burning a hole in his bedside cabinet.

  ****

  Shal left his car parked in Jodie’s driveway. They joined some of the seventy thousand people walking to the start point of Auckland’s annual Round the Bays Fun Run.

  Jodie tried to keep her mind off the end of the run. It’s stupid to be so nervous about meeting Shal’s family, she told herself. His mother sounds so correct and proper. I’ll hardly be dressed properly after a run. I’ll be in sweaty sports clothes.

  For heavens sake, what’s the matter with me? I’m a successful, highly educated woman who often moves in exalted circles. Where has all my confidence gone?

  “You’re not nervous, are you? There’s nothing to be nervous about.”

  She started as Shal guessed her thoughts. What does he know? I’m not prepared to be presented to them. If only we could have met casually, that would have been different. Her palms began to sweat.

  “Everyone from the team-building course will be there. They’re looking forward to seeing you again.”

  Jodie’s head shot around. “You told them I was coming?”

  “Why not?” Shal seemed surprised. “Georgia guessed who was causing all my bad moods. It’s been a source of their amusement for the last couple of weeks.”

  Jodie hated the idea she’d been the subject of gossip. “What have you told them?” She bit her lip.

  “Why should I have told them anything?” Shal countered. At her withering look, he capitulated. “I may have mentioned to my family that I’ve met an amazing woman that I want to marry.”

  Jodie gasped, her eyes bulging. Shal continued in an off-hand manner. “Don’t worry. I’ve also told them you weren’t interested in marrying me...that we’re just friends.”

  His words stabbed at her heart. Thankfully, right then some runners jostled past, forcing them apart for a few moments. Jodie was able to counter the pain that left a cold knot in her stomach.

  She felt Shal’s keen glance and hoped she’d schooled her face to hide her devastation. “Lying was the only way to shut them up.”

  Some of the cold thawed at the twinkle in his dark eyes. Had he been teasing? She wasn’t sure. When his fingers brushed hers she clasped them, using the milling crowd around them as a reason for not releasing him.

  The arm he slid around her shoulders drew her against him, his grin was now definitely teasing. “Just think, in thirty minutes it’ll be all over, you’ll have met everyone and we’ll be having a great time. So relax and let’s enjoy the day.”

  Jodie decided to take his advice instead of screwing herself up into knots. “Thirty minutes,” she scoffed. The starting gun had already gone off but no one around them could move yet. “What are you willing to bet?”

  “Ah-ha, a bet, aye?” She giggled as he nuzzled her neck lasciviously. “I’m sure I’ll come up with something.”

  “I’m sure you will too,” she murmured as the crowd finally surged forward.

  It was their first run together and they continued teasing each other as they dodged through and around the mass of runners and walkers. Many displayed group or novelty outfits as they moved along the eight-and-a-half kilometre course.

  “Please tell me you know where we’re going?” Jodie begged. A mass of bodies crowded the finish at St. Hellier’s Bay.

  Shal grinned and grabbed her hand. “Of course I do. We upgraded to a corporate site cos more staff participate each year. By the time they bring family and friends...” He pulled her along. “Come on, I’m dying for a cold drink.”

  Shal’s parents were nothing like she’d anticipated. His mother was beautiful. Jodie was reminded of Sophia Loren. Instead of prim and proper, she was casually dressed with her long dark hair pulled back from her face into a haphazard ponytail. Her almost-black eyes sparkled as Shal introduced them. Her smile was warm and friendly.

  “I’ve been looking forward to meeting you,” she said as she took Jodie’s hand. “Shalah has told us so little about you.”

  Jodie glanced as Shal, the pronunciation of his full name sounding exotic rolling from his mother’s tongue. He shrugged, a somewhat nervous smile hovering around his lips.

  “Hello, Jodie.” Similar to Shal in stature, his father also had the same grey eyes. He looked the picture of good health in shorts and a T-shirt, no evidence of the heart condition she knew he suffered from.

  He held her hand as he smiled at her. “You and your parents did a great job on that course.” He checked no one was close by before adding, “I never imagined it could teach my lone wolf anything,” he clasped Shal’s arm, “although I had hoped.”

  Jodie’s eyes widened. “I doubt we taught Shal anything,” she contradicted. Shal’s arm slipped around her waist. “He was an enormous help when we needed it.”

  “I’m glad he was there for you.”

  “Believe me, so was I.”

  The arm tightened. “You mean that?”

  “Of course.” Didn’t he realise that already? “Without you, I could never have got to Danny. He probably would have died up there.”

  Jodie’s smile as Shal’s chest expanded became a blush when he kissed her very firmly. His parents’ delighted laughter brought even more colour into her cheeks.

  She strove to distract them. “Dad mentioned you’ve booked another course, Mr. Gregory. They appreciate your confidence after all that happened.”

  “Please, we’re Peter and Rida.” Peter tapped his son’s arm again. “People who can make this workaholic start delegating can probably do much more. Our company will benefit, I’m in no doubt.”

  “That’s very kind—”

  Shal interrupted Jodie’s thanks to share another result. “And don’t forget Kelly.”

  “Kelly?”

  “Yep, Maz has promoted her. A couple of weeks with the Mathiesons and she’s a different person.”

  “Just like you, son,” Peter added.

  “Ah yes, but I have a different incentive.”

  Thankfully others arrived and Jodie was engulfed in jubilant greetings from course members and more introductions.

  Shal and his father were busy organising the barbeque when a hand tapped on her shoulder.

  “Maz?” she guessed as she turned to face a man bearing a close resemblance to Shal and their father.

  “Georgia says I have you to thank.”

>   She returned his smile. “For what?”

  The man’s eyes slid toward the barbeque before returning to her. “For getting Shal off my back.”

  She tipped her head to one side, looking closely at Maz. “Poor little kid brother?”

  For a moment she saw a flash of anger in his eyes before it vanished. “Something like that.”

  “And now?”

  “Now you’re on his mind, he’s leaving me alone.”

  Jodie recognised pent up resentment. “Shal’s proud of you, Maz.”

  “Yeah, right.”

  “I’m serious.” She gripped his forearm. “The other night he was telling me about some coup you’d pulled off.” His face lightened. “He was going on about it for ages, not that I had much idea what he was talking about, but he was so chuffed.”

  “You’re not kidding, are you?”

  “Why would I kid you?” she returned. Shal had spoken of his brother often, usually in a less than complimentarily way. But the last few days she’d glimpsed a difference. Something had changed his mind about the worth of his kid brother.

  “Maz, get over here and pull your weight,” Shal yelled, with no censure in his voice.

  “It’s sort of a tradition. Family does the work here,” Mazin explained, with a lopsided grin. “I’d better go.” His eyes darted across to his brother. He touched Jodie on the shoulder and mumbled, “Ah thanks, Jodie.”

  Peter and his two sons produced a steady flow of meat from the barbeque while Rida invited Jodie to join Georgia and Leila dishing salads from the huge bowls onto waiting plates. The mass of people around and in the marquee talked and laughed the afternoon away.

  The spot prize offered to the staff for participation in the charity event was won by the mail boy, who waved the hundred dollar note aloft with a huge grin on his face. He was clapped and cheered with such friendliness, it made Jodie realise this company really promoted office spirit. Even as their role was increasing financial portfolios, they cared about their staff.

  Jodie met so many people during the afternoon she forgot names, but they all displayed a sense of belonging. Their attitude toward each other and their bosses showed a mutual respect and affection Jodie hadn’t expected in such a large and successful company. She remembered Shal’s sentiments that not all businesses operated like the one Rhys had worked for.

  ****

  Shal hadn’t seen Jodie since Sunday. Pulling his car into her driveway, he drew a deep breath, anticipating the next few moments.

  He fantasized taking her into his arms, slipping his hands under her clothes… His body longed to feel her touch against his bare skin. Unfortunately, that was not to be.

  While she seemed eager to slip into his arms as soon as her front door closed behind them, she resisted his efforts to shuffle them toward the bedroom saying they needed to leave if they were going to have a meal before the movie they’d chosen to see.

  Jodie hurried to answer the phone just as she was about to set the house alarm. Catching her embarrassed glance, Shal stiffened. His good mood evaporated. Who is she talking to that she doesn’t want me to hear?

  “I’ll wait in the car.”

  Tempted to stand and listen, he inched down the pathway. His clenched fists loosened as he heard her voice uttering a very indignant, “Mum!”

  He chuckled and admitting surging jealousy had been very close to the surface.

  “Sorry, that was just Mum checking up on me.” He saw her cheeks were definitely pink.

  “Did you tell her about us?”

  She met his eyes. “No.” Then Jodie’s look wavered. “But she’d heard your voice and wanted to know who was with me.”

  Shal felt himself grin, confidence rising. “And did you tell her it was a work colleague? Or a travelling brush salesman? Or—”

  “She asked if it was you.” Jodie’s look turned to a frustrated glare. “I can’t tell my mother lies.”

  “They’re inclined to know when you try, aren’t they?” he commiserated.

  He started the car. “My mother’s being particularly nosey right now, too. She wants to know when I’m bringing you over so she can ‘really get to know you.’” He heard Jodie’s sharp intake.

  “I told her I want to keep you to myself.” Her hesitant smile—another indication she was accepting his place in her life—caught him deep in the chest. He struggled to keep a straight face even though he felt like punching the air above him.

  Why isn’t my proposal surprise getting finalised quicker? I need to show her how serious I am with a commitment that will shock and, I pray, thrill her.

  Chapter Seventeen

  Life took on a new glow for Jodie. The days no longer dragged on incessantly with nothing to fill them but mundane routine. Now she felt alive, and it showed.

  Her closest friends clamoured to meet the man responsible for this change. As Jodie’s wavering confidence in their relationship grew, she began accepting invitations and introducing him into her world. Having no qualms he would fit in—after all he was a charismatic man-about-town—she wasn’t surprised when he became an instant hit.

  But deep inside, when she was away from his alluring presence, a niggling doubt still existed. It was hard to let go of her doubting townies’ integrity. It wasn’t only because of Rhys and Jason. There had been others, men and women, who had added to her disillusionment over the years.

  But Shal did seem different. She’d seen him in both environments in which she lived and he’d shone equally. But is it just an illusion? Something I want so much I’m subconsciously ignoring warning signs?

  Shaking her head, Jodie shunted the agonising aside. Where this would end up, she wasn’t sure, but she was moving on. Time would eventually prove her right or wrong.

  She’d conquered her fear of exposing herself to a physical relationship, but Shal seemed to want so much more. He wanted inside her head as well.

  Curled up on the sofa after her shower, she was feeling sorry for herself. He’d been invited to join his family tonight. She’d needed to train, so had to refuse his invitation to accompany him.

  She pondered over the last couple of weeks. They’d been together often, out and around in the city, or quietly at home. They’d discussed numerous topics, laughed and argued over joint or opposing views.

  No matter how their time together started, inevitably they’d end up in bed. Her lips curled as her gaze lingered on her bedroom door. The house seemed so empty without him here beside her.

  She jumped up and headed to the kitchen. A hot drink and bed—even though alone—was what she needed. No reason to spend agonising hours worrying. Shal would be here again.

  She grinned, accepting she should have acknowledged how vital his presence was to her peace of mind at the time his help had given Rhys back to her. That was when her trepidation had begun to crumble. She’d trusted Shal enough to listen to the truth.

  Thanks to him Rhys’s spirit was often with her now, egging her on. She felt him goading her now as she wandered toward her bed with a mug of hot chocolate in her hand. Goading her to grab this man with both hands and never let him go.

  ****

  Inviting Shal to a small faculty dinner party was a huge step for Jodie, and one he seemed to appreciate. Introducing him to department heads and her peers she had no doubt he’d charm them all. He didn’t let her down.

  Seeing him talk to the Dean and his wife later, Jodie felt a surge of pride quite beyond what their current relationship warranted. His smile as he caught her eye was as soft as a caress and brought heat to her cheeks.

  Not having met the wife of her newest colleague before, Jodie wasn’t prepared for the verbal onslaught, which began almost as soon as they were seated. It continued all through the meal.

  Biting her lip became increasingly painful as they were subjected to a continuing spiel about how fortunate the couple was and how much they owned. Jodie’s teeth clenched a number of times. Shal’s fingers gripping hers reassured her he was as dis
interested in learning about this couple’s possessions as she was.

  “Those people ruined the whole evening,” she muttered as she slid into the car. “Bloody townies, they’re all the same.”

  Never did it enter her head Shal might disagree. “I think they were just nervous. It wasn’t so bad.”

  “What?” Her head swung around. “You’re kidding.” She began mimicking, “We’ve got this, and we paid so much for that. Our children are at private schools, of course.” She growled as she tugged her seatbelt into place.

  “Who the hell cares? I wonder how happy they are with all those material things?” Then for good measure she muttered, “Townies,” again.

  “They’re not all that different from me or you.”

  Jodie couldn’t believe her ears. She swung around to face him as he drove toward Parnell. “Pardon?”

  “You’re a townie. I’m a townie.”

  His dry response drew a gasp from her. “I’ll never be a townie. I—”

  “Wake up, Jodie. You’re a townie through and through despite what you tell yourself. You like what living in the city gives you.”

  “I do not. I—”

  “Then why aren’t you working out in the bush, or in the countryside somewhere?” he demanded. “I’ll tell you why.

  “Because you earn more money here, because you’ve got status here, you’re someone important here. You’re searching for status and material possessions as much as the next person. You like your comfortable life here in the city, Jodie...or you’d be somewhere else.”

  “You’re wrong,” she snapped.

  He stopped in front of her house and turned to face her. “Am I?” Even in the darkness she saw his eyebrows shoot up.

  “Yes, you are.”

  “Okay.” He shrugged. “I won’t come in—”

  “Don’t worry. You weren’t invited.”

  Jodie released her seatbelt and exited the car, getting great satisfaction out of slamming the door. She didn’t look back as she stalked up her pathway.

  Unlocking, then slamming the house’s door as well, she heard the crunch of tyres on the loose metal shoulder and muttered, “Good riddance,” under her breath.